and feelings of the people heavenwards to the very throne of God, so that " all the people shall answer, Amen, Amen," and "worship the Lord" in spirit and in truth (ver. 6). There is no higher or greater service man can render man than that of helping him to come into close and living fellowship with the Father, the Saviour the Sanctifier of his spirit. ' III. ONE ABIDING FACT, The fitness of the sacred Scnptures for every chilcl o:f man. Men, women, and children, "all that can hear with understanding," gather still to hear the word of God. There is not, nor will there ever be, a book inspired of man that can interest and instruct, comfort and guide, our race like this book " given by the inspiration of God." Childhood will never read with such devouring eagerness such stories elsewhere as those of Joseph and Moses and Daniel, and of the babe that was cradled in the manger at Bethlehem. Youth will never learn else- where to remember its Creator as it learns here in the stories of Samuel and Josiah, and of him who "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man; " here prime will learn, as nowhere else, that man cannot "live on bread alone," or grow rich only by making money and building fortunes; here sorrow will ever find its sweetest solace, its best and holiest balm, and sicknees its one untiring Companion ; and here death itself loses its darkness and its sting, as these pages speak to it of him who is "the Resurrection and the Life."-C. Vera. 1-18.-The word of God in a threefold relatitmship. I. THE WORD OP Goo AND POPULAR DESIRE. "And they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel." 1. The desire of the people for the word of God. (1) Natural. It was interesting as their national history. (2) Wise. The word of God is of the highest value to the human soul. (3) Prophetic. The word of God shall one day be the delight of a sanctified humanity. 2. The attitude of the people toward the word of God. (1) Attentive. (2) Intelligent. (3) Persevering. ( 4) Reverent. (5) Prayerful. II. THE WORD OF Goo AND SPIRITUAL EMOTION. "This day is holy unto the Lord your God ; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they beard the words of the law" (ver. 9). There is much in the word of God to awaken human emotion; its record of sin must inspire grief; its tidings of Divine mercy should beget joy. The emotions awakened by the word of God must be-1. Enlightened. 2. Appro- priate (ver. 11). 3. Benevolent (ver. 10). Ill. THE WORD OF Goo AND CHURCH ORDINANCE. 1. Church ordinances should be remembered. 2. Church ordinances should be Scriptural. 3. Church orclinances should be joyous. 4. Church ordinances should not be exclusive.-E. Vera. 8-12.-Penitence turned into praise. I. ALL TRUE REJOICING MUST BE FOUNDJm ON RECONCILIATION WITH Goo. 1. The righteousness of God in his law, while it condemns man, and makes the people to weep when they see their sin in its light, is yet declared not for condemnation, but for reconciliation. 2. The true ministers of God will proclaim mercy, not judgment, as the substance of their message. "This day is holy unto the Lord your God ; mourn not, nor weep." There is a time to weep, but there is a time to turn tears to praise. 3. The joy of the Lord which is our strength will be expressed in no mere selfish forgetfulness of him and of our neighbour, but in cheerfulness and beneficence; our own portions will be the sweeter when we send help to those for whom nothing is prepared. II. THE CONVERSION AND REFORMATION OF A PEOPLE MUST BE EFFECTED THROUGH THE WORD OF Gon. They "understood the words which were declared unto them." A ministry which leaves the people either without tho word or without understanding the word is no ministry of God.-R.
Vera. 9-12.-Religious emotion. The scene through which the redeemed and now secured nation was passing was fruitful of excitement. Everything conspired to affect the minds and stir the souls of the people. Large multitudes are soon wrought into intense feeling-, and nil that the assembled Israelites were then seeing, hearing and doing· -this, taken with all they recalled of old scenes and past glorirs, and th~se experie~ces Md recollections mingled with reviving hope!:! of future 88 THE BOOK OF NETTEl\flAlI. [ea. vnt. 1-12.